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Pickett Joins Las Vegas Raiders
4/25/2026 9:30:00 PM | Football
DURHAM, N.C. - Former Duke offensive lineman Justin Pickett has agreed to terms with the Las Vegas Raiders to join the NFL organization as an undrafted free agent.
Pickett, a 6-7, 320-pound product of Carmel, Indiana, lettered four (2022-23-24-25) seasons and was a team captain in 2024 and 2025. The Third Team All-ACC selection in 2025 was also a three-time Academic All-ACC honoree as well as a National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society member in 2024.Â
While at Duke, Pickett played in 49 games and started 35. He helped the Blue Devils to a program-record 35 wins over four seasons, four bowl game appearances (2022 Military Bowl, 2023 76 Birmingham Bowl, 2024 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl and 2025 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl), three bowl victories and Duke's first outright ACC championship since 1962. He played 2,563 career snaps.
The 2025 offensive recipient of Duke's Hard Hitter Award, fittingly presented to the hardest-hitting and most physical players on the team, Pickett started all 14 games, 13 at right guard and one at right tackle, during his final campaign in Durham. He was a key piece of the Blue Devil offensive attack that set the program record for total touchdowns scored (63), points scored (484) and pass efficiency (152.53). He was also part of an offensive unit that became the first in school history to have a 3,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard receiver and 1,000-yard rusher. Pickett helped Duke's offense rank among the NCAA leaders in fourth down conversion percentage (.738; 4th), total first downs (316; 10th), passing yards per game (285.4; 10th), points per game (34.6; 16th), team passing efficiency (152.53; 19th), completion percentage (.664; 25th) and total offense (423.5; 25th).Â
In 2024, Pickett received the team's Duke Tough Award, which is presented annually to the football student-athlete who personifies the physical and mental toughness required to be a Blue Devil. He saw action in 11 games (11 starts) at right guard and was part of an offensive line that ranked second in the ACC, and tied for ninth nationally, in fewest sacks allowed per game (0.92). He was part of a unit that allowed 72.0 tackles for loss, with just 234 yards lost, the fourth-lowest total in the ACC.
As a redshirt sophomore in 2023, Pickett appeared in 10 games (seven starts) at both left and right guard. He helped the offense accumulate 2,174 rushing and 2,351 passing yards as well as 26 rushing TDs, tied for the fifth-most in program history. He played a key role in Duke only losing 171 rushing yards on the year, the fewest in the ACC.
Pickett experienced action in 13 games (three starts) as a redshirt freshman in 2022 and helped the running game excel. Duke registered 31 rushing scores to set the program record as Pickett helped create paths for four Blue Devils to rush for 400 or more yards, a first in program history. Pickett also helped the offensive line unit rank first in the ACC in sacks allowed (17) and TFL allowed (51). He played one game as a true freshman in 2021.Â
Pickett graduated from Duke in December 2024 with a degree in public policy, minor in sociology and a certificate in markets and management studies.Â
To stay up to date with Blue Devils football, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeFootball".
#GoDuke
Pickett, a 6-7, 320-pound product of Carmel, Indiana, lettered four (2022-23-24-25) seasons and was a team captain in 2024 and 2025. The Third Team All-ACC selection in 2025 was also a three-time Academic All-ACC honoree as well as a National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society member in 2024.Â
While at Duke, Pickett played in 49 games and started 35. He helped the Blue Devils to a program-record 35 wins over four seasons, four bowl game appearances (2022 Military Bowl, 2023 76 Birmingham Bowl, 2024 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl and 2025 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl), three bowl victories and Duke's first outright ACC championship since 1962. He played 2,563 career snaps.
The 2025 offensive recipient of Duke's Hard Hitter Award, fittingly presented to the hardest-hitting and most physical players on the team, Pickett started all 14 games, 13 at right guard and one at right tackle, during his final campaign in Durham. He was a key piece of the Blue Devil offensive attack that set the program record for total touchdowns scored (63), points scored (484) and pass efficiency (152.53). He was also part of an offensive unit that became the first in school history to have a 3,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard receiver and 1,000-yard rusher. Pickett helped Duke's offense rank among the NCAA leaders in fourth down conversion percentage (.738; 4th), total first downs (316; 10th), passing yards per game (285.4; 10th), points per game (34.6; 16th), team passing efficiency (152.53; 19th), completion percentage (.664; 25th) and total offense (423.5; 25th).Â
In 2024, Pickett received the team's Duke Tough Award, which is presented annually to the football student-athlete who personifies the physical and mental toughness required to be a Blue Devil. He saw action in 11 games (11 starts) at right guard and was part of an offensive line that ranked second in the ACC, and tied for ninth nationally, in fewest sacks allowed per game (0.92). He was part of a unit that allowed 72.0 tackles for loss, with just 234 yards lost, the fourth-lowest total in the ACC.
As a redshirt sophomore in 2023, Pickett appeared in 10 games (seven starts) at both left and right guard. He helped the offense accumulate 2,174 rushing and 2,351 passing yards as well as 26 rushing TDs, tied for the fifth-most in program history. He played a key role in Duke only losing 171 rushing yards on the year, the fewest in the ACC.
Pickett experienced action in 13 games (three starts) as a redshirt freshman in 2022 and helped the running game excel. Duke registered 31 rushing scores to set the program record as Pickett helped create paths for four Blue Devils to rush for 400 or more yards, a first in program history. Pickett also helped the offensive line unit rank first in the ACC in sacks allowed (17) and TFL allowed (51). He played one game as a true freshman in 2021.Â
Pickett graduated from Duke in December 2024 with a degree in public policy, minor in sociology and a certificate in markets and management studies.Â
To stay up to date with Blue Devils football, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeFootball".
#GoDuke
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